Young Putnam farmer successful with goats

JAMIE CHARBENEAU-PISELLA, THE LIVINGSTON COMMUNITY NEWSTom Chambers with one of his Alpine dairy goats. Chambers, 18, is building a business among people who prefer fresh goat milk.

BY LEANNE SMITHThe Livingston Community News

A sixth-generation Putnam Township farmer has found an innovative way to use goats to help pay for college and contribute to the preservation of the family farm.

Since March, Tom Chambers, 18, has been selling shares in his goat herd to those who like the health and digestive benefits of goat milk.

"You can't sell raw milk in Michigan, but there are a lot of people who really want it because it's natural and healthy," he said. "They sign a contract with me that gives them part ownership of my herd, and that entitles them to the milk."

To date, Chambers is milking eight Alpine goats in his Heavenly Dairy and has sold about a dozen shares in his herd to local families and others from Ann Arbor and beyond. He hopes to build up to 30 shares.

JAMIE CHARBENEAU-PISELLA, THE LIVINGSTON COMMUNITY NEWSChambers milks one of his eight Alpine goats at his Heavenly Dairy. To date, he has sold about a dozen shares in his herd to local families and others from Ann Arbor and beyond.

"Most of the people have children with milk allergies or digestive problems and the goat milk is easier to digest," he said. "Some of them just want to be more healthy."

Shareholders pay $60 a year to lease part of the herd and $50 per month for care and management of the animals. That gives them a gallon and a half of goat milk per week. Hamburg Township's Irene Robinson has two shares, which she purchased after the birth of her granddaughter.

"My daughter went all organic when she was pregnant, and we wanted the milk for the baby after she stopped nursing," Robinson said. "My granddaughter is 19 months old now and she's thriving. She's never had a cold or illness."

Her desire to support local farmers also played into Robinson's purchase of the goat milk shares, she said.

"Any food we can get that's produced locally is better for us and for the local farmers," she said. "You know it hasn't traveled miles on trucks."

Chambers hopes to get a degree in agriculture from Michigan State University and continue the farm that was started by his great- great-great-grandfather, William Chambers, in 1875. He's taking classes at Lansing Community College to get started.

His parents, Keith and Jennifer Chambers, say they are thrilled that the eldest of their four children wants to carry on the farm, which grows hay and field corn and has a pumpkin patch, petting zoo and a robust sweet corn business.

"Tom has worked very hard to develop and improve his herd," Jennifer Chambers said. "We're really proud of his dedication."

Chambers has been assisted in his venture by Tim and Robin Leonard, owners of Garden Patch Farm, a certified organic farm east of Pinckney.

"Tom is so mature, and he knows goats and farming, and he's not afraid of hard work," Robin Leonard said. "We probably get two to five calls a week from people wanting goat milk, and we refer them all to Tom."

Goats in Chambers' herd earned 4-H grand champion and reserve champion at Livingston County's 2008 Fowlerville Family Fair, and he said he hopes to maintain that quality for years to come.